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Per the intended schedule, Friday afternoon’s solo TT qualifying session sprung into fruition at 1:45 PM.
Michael Dunlop astride the ultra-rapid SC Project S1-R Paton, quickly stole the limelight.
Setting exquisite sector times, the Ballymoney roads icon would go onto unofficially again, surpass the existing Super Twins lap record, lapping at 123.474 mph (18:20.052 seconds).
The 21 times TT winner added Supersport Q5 victory via another potent standing start lap speed, this time standing at 127.51 mph.
Dean Harrison (127.216) was just 2.459 behind ‘Maverick’ with respective third, fourth speediest class exponents been Davey Todd (125.715), Michael Browne (125.049).
In terms of the Super Twins scene, second, third, fourth best behind Dunlop were reigning Privateers Champion, 2019 race runner-up Jamie Coward (121.08), North West 200 winner Pierre Yves Bian (119.131) and Josh Brookes (118.559).
Final chapters of Friday qualifying revolved around 1000cc machinery.
Maintaining the fierce pace shown in aforementioned Twin/Supersport combined qualifying, 112 times Irish road race victor Dunlop from a standing start, nudged under the 17 minutes barrier!
His lap speed was 134.270 mph, 16:51.605 seconds.
Incredibly across the following timed lap, he was on course throughout for a new unofficial Superbike lap record.
As I’ve said previously this man proves the impossible is possible, well he did it again today.
Get ready for this, his flying lap aboard the Hawk Racing Honda Superbike was 135.531 mph (16:42.189 seconds).
Joining new unofficial lap record holder Dunlop in acquiring a sub 17 minutes lap was DAO Racing’s Harrison (134.216).
Joining them in this unique category was official lap record holder, Monster Energy by FHO Racing’s Peter Hickman, who bagged a 134.910 mph lap speed.
Behind the above showcased, King of The Roads Champion Davey Todd (132.194), Josh Brookes (131.098) chalked up best lap’s thus far of TT 2023.
John McGuinness MBE (131.003) wrapped up Friday’s Superbike top six whilst additional notable lap speeds attained included:
BE/RK Racing’s Michael Browne (129.664), SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson (129.279), WH Racing’s Julian Trummer (126.068).
AJ Venter (122.714), Newcomers Ryan Cringle (121.844), Erno Kostamo (119.806).
TT 2023 – Friday Qualifying Results:
(PB lap speed located near racer’s name)
Superbike:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 135.531
2 – Peter Hickman – 134.91
3 – Dean Harrison – 134.216
4 – Davey Todd – 132.194
5 – Josh Brookes – 131.098
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 131.003
7 – Jamie Coward – 130.945
8 – Rob Hodson – 129.279
9 – David Johnson – 129.243
10 – Michael Rutter – 129.145
11 – James Hillier – 128.881
12 – Shaun Anderson – 128.331
13 – Dominic Herbertson – 128.28
14 – Jim Hind – 128.129
15 – Phil Crowe – 127.787
16 – Sam West – 126.375
17 – Julian Trummer – 126.068
18 – Craig Neve – 125.641
19 – Forest Dunn – 124.514
20 – David Datzer – 123.581
Superstock:
1 – Davey Todd – 131.08
2 – Jamie Coward – 130.945
3 – Michael Browne – 129.664
4 – Rob Hodson – 129.279
5 – James Hillier – 129.099
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.476
7 – Michael Rutter – 126.979
8 – Craig Neve – 126.899
9 – Brian McCormack – 126.878
10 – Dominic Herbertson – 128.28
11 – Jim Hind – 128.129
12 – Sam West – 126.375
13 – Julian Trummer – 126.068
14 – Forest Dunn – 124.514
15 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.466
16 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.418
17 – Mark Goodings – 123.183
18 – Michael Russell – 122.951
19 – Richard Wilson – 122.928
20 – AJ Venter – 122.714
Supersport:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 127.51
2 – Dean Harrison – 127.216
3 – Davey Todd – 125.715
4 – Michael Browne – 125.049
5 – Peter Hickman – 124.842
6 – James Hillier – 124.761
7 – Craig Neve – 123.727
8 – Dominic Herbertson – 123.362
9 – Paul Jordan – 122.004
10 – Shaun Anderson – 121.566
11 – David Johnson – 121.155
12 – Raul Torras Martinez – 120.173
13 – Joey Thompson – 119.998
14 – Michal Dokoupil – 119.561
15 – Stephen Parsons – 119.215
16 – Jonathan Perry – 118.75
17 – Tom Weeden – 118.743
18 – Brian McCormack – 118.737
19 – Barry Furber – 118.545
20 – Rhys Hardisty – 117.993
Super Twins:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 123.474
2 – Jamie Coward – 121.08
3 – Michael Browne – 119.522
4 – Pierre Yves Bian – 119.131
5 – Josh Brookes – 118.559
6 – Rob Hodson – 118.266
7 – Paul Jordan – 117.455
8 – Michael Rutter – 116.917
9 – Francesco Curinga – 116.131
10 – Stefano Bonetti – 115.979
11 – Dominic Herbertson – 115.885
12 – Brian McCormack – 115.568
13 – Barry Furber – 115.444
14 – Michael Evans – 115.376
15 – Raul Torras Martinez – 114.823
16 – Xavier Denis – 114.339
17 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 114.158
18 – Chris Moore – 114.083
19 – Dave Hewson – 113.092
20 – Jonathan Goetschy – 112.84
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Maintaining the fierce pace shown in aforementioned Twin/Supersport combined qualifying, 112 times Irish road race victor Dunlop from a standing start, nudged under the 17 minutes barrier!
His lap speed was 134.270 mph, 16:51.605 seconds.
Incredibly across the following timed lap, he was on course throughout for a new unofficial Superbike lap record.
As I’ve said previously this man proves the impossible is possible, well he did it again today.
Get ready for this, his flying lap aboard the Hawk Racing Honda Superbike was 135.531 mph (16:42.189 seconds).
Joining new unofficial lap record holder Dunlop in acquiring a sub 17 minutes lap was DAO Racing’s Harrison (134.216).
Joining them in this unique category was official lap record holder, Monster Energy by FHO Racing’s Peter Hickman, who bagged a 134.910 mph lap speed.
Behind the above showcased, King of The Roads Champion Davey Todd (132.194), Josh Brookes (131.098) chalked up best lap’s thus far of TT 2023.
John McGuinness MBE (131.003) wrapped up Friday’s Superbike top six whilst additional notable lap speeds attained included:
BE/RK Racing’s Michael Browne (129.664), SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson (129.279), WH Racing’s Julian Trummer (126.068).
AJ Venter (122.714), Newcomers Ryan Cringle (121.844), Erno Kostamo (119.806).
TT 2023 – Friday Qualifying Results:
(PB lap speed located near racer’s name)
Superbike:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 135.531
2 – Peter Hickman – 134.91
3 – Dean Harrison – 134.216
4 – Davey Todd – 132.194
5 – Josh Brookes – 131.098
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 131.003
7 – Jamie Coward – 130.945
8 – Rob Hodson – 129.279
9 – David Johnson – 129.243
10 – Michael Rutter – 129.145
11 – James Hillier – 128.881
12 – Shaun Anderson – 128.331
13 – Dominic Herbertson – 128.28
14 – Jim Hind – 128.129
15 – Phil Crowe – 127.787
16 – Sam West – 126.375
17 – Julian Trummer – 126.068
18 – Craig Neve – 125.641
19 – Forest Dunn – 124.514
20 – David Datzer – 123.581
Superstock:
1 – Davey Todd – 131.08
2 – Jamie Coward – 130.945
3 – Michael Browne – 129.664
4 – Rob Hodson – 129.279
5 – James Hillier – 129.099
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.476
7 – Michael Rutter – 126.979
8 – Craig Neve – 126.899
9 – Brian McCormack – 126.878
10 – Dominic Herbertson – 128.28
11 – Jim Hind – 128.129
12 – Sam West – 126.375
13 – Julian Trummer – 126.068
14 – Forest Dunn – 124.514
15 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.466
16 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.418
17 – Mark Goodings – 123.183
18 – Michael Russell – 122.951
19 – Richard Wilson – 122.928
20 – AJ Venter – 122.714
Supersport:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 127.51
2 – Dean Harrison – 127.216
3 – Davey Todd – 125.715
4 – Michael Browne – 125.049
5 – Peter Hickman – 124.842
6 – James Hillier – 124.761
7 – Craig Neve – 123.727
8 – Dominic Herbertson – 123.362
9 – Paul Jordan – 122.004
10 – Shaun Anderson – 121.566
11 – David Johnson – 121.155
12 – Raul Torras Martinez – 120.173
13 – Joey Thompson – 119.998
14 – Michal Dokoupil – 119.561
15 – Stephen Parsons – 119.215
16 – Jonathan Perry – 118.75
17 – Tom Weeden – 118.743
18 – Brian McCormack – 118.737
19 – Barry Furber – 118.545
20 – Rhys Hardisty – 117.993
Super Twins:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 123.474
2 – Jamie Coward – 121.08
3 – Michael Browne – 119.522
4 – Pierre Yves Bian – 119.131
5 – Josh Brookes – 118.559
6 – Rob Hodson – 118.266
7 – Paul Jordan – 117.455
8 – Michael Rutter – 116.917
9 – Francesco Curinga – 116.131
10 – Stefano Bonetti – 115.979
11 – Dominic Herbertson – 115.885
12 – Brian McCormack – 115.568
13 – Barry Furber – 115.444
14 – Michael Evans – 115.376
15 – Raul Torras Martinez – 114.823
16 – Xavier Denis – 114.339
17 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 114.158
18 – Chris Moore – 114.083
19 – Dave Hewson – 113.092
20 – Jonathan Goetschy – 112.84
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
